By Dana Bykowski
May 12, 2003

Keeping in step with San Bernardino's mission to enhance the quality of life for residents through quality housing, community services, job growth, and economic development, Mayor Judith Valles hosted a CitiesFirst™ Roundtable on Wednesday, April 30th for the Inland Empire region of Southern California. This roundtable brought together mayors, city managers, and housing directors from many Inland Empire cities, including: Colton, Riverside, Rialto, Redlands, Rancho Cucamonga, Pomona, Ontario, Loma Linda, Upland, Yucaipa, and Corona.

For Mayor Valles getting the Inland Empire region more involved in molding its own future development was one of the main objectives of this roundtable.

"As a community of leaders, it is crucial for the mayors of the Inland Empire region to come together to find innovative and practical solutions that meet the housing needs of our residents, and that is why I brought CitiesFirst™ here today," Valles told the group. "We are all a part of this community and its success or failure rests upon each one of us. By that I am referring not only to residents, but also to those of you who work here and live elsewhere," she added.

The roundtable participants heard a presentation from Nehemiah Corporation's National Community Outreach Director, William Feigles, who demonstrated ways that other cities have used the programs offered through CitiesFirst™, including Nehemiah's down payment assistance program, provision of special needs housing, and the Nehemiah Community Foundation which provides grants for community reinvestment projects to local faith and community based organizations.

"The homebuyer generates the greatest amount of wealth for local economies because when people purchase a home they also purchase home furnishings, landscaping, and appliances from local stores in the community. Programs like CitiesFirst™, that are geared toward increasing homeownership, are critical to the success of the community overall," said Valles.

Southern California's Inland Empire, a 28,000 square mile region comprised of San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and the eastern tip of Los Angeles County, is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in America. In area, it is larger in mass than the state of Massachusetts and three other New England states combined. Its population of 3.1 million is more than that of 20 states, and increases at a rate of nearly 100,000 residents per year.

Furthermore, its strategic West Coast location provides instant access to all of Southern California. What the Inland Empire has that the coastal counties don-t have is vast amounts of available land for future growth. The region also features an impressive offering of some 25 colleges and universities. The Inland Empire produces new jobs at a 5 percent rate, or nearly 50,000 per year, outpacing all other state regions. Now, the Inland Empire features a changing economic landscape with the emergence of new technology that is expanding the region's economic base.

"The Conference is very pleased that Mayor Valles brought CitiesFirst™ to her city, and encouraged other Inland Empire mayors to utilize the resources that this program provides to cities and mayors to keep their housing market strong and their neighborhoods alive," said Conference Executive Director J. Thomas Cochran.